jwd2011s - Intermediate Conversation

Hello Everyone! Welcome to FORL 211- Intermediate English Conversation.

I will use this page to help you keep track of class documents and remember assignments. I will give you all the material you need in class. If you are not in class or if you lose any documents, you will need to download the document/s from this page.

Week 1- Syllabus & Introductions

Syllabus- Int Con (FORL 211) Spring 2011.doc

Get worked up = To become sad or angry
- My mom got pretty worked up when I told her I wanted to come to Korea.
Be a handful = Require a lot of one's time and attention; difficult to manage or control
- Ever since my daughter started walking, she has been a handful She's always grabbing, spilling, or chewing something.
Flirt (verb) = to act cute in order to get a person (of opposite sex) to like or pay attention to you
(noun) = person that usually does such things
- She always flirts with guys before asking them to help her.
Tie the knot = To get married
- You guys have been dating for a long time. When are you going to tie the knot.
Take someone under one's wing = To protect, take care of, and/or guide someone (who is younger or new to the place)
- The manager really took me under his wing during my first couple years at the job.

Week 2 (7 March)- Weather
New York Weather Forecast
You may watch the video above for practice, but you don't have to watch it. The video is updated frequently, so the words I told you to listen for in class will not be the same as the words in the video. I'll see you all on Wednesday.

Week 2 Handout revised.doc

Take heart = Cheer up; Don't worry.
- Take heart. You can always do reading to earn extra credit.
Heat wave = Long period of very hot temperatures.
- The heat wave is putting a lot of strain on farmers and construction workers.
Nose dive = Sudden and sharp decrease.
- Real estate prices took a nose dive during the financial crisis.
No wonder = I understand why... ; I'm not surprised
- You always sleep in class. No wonder you are failing.
Hit = reach; achieve; arrive
- The temperature is expected to hit 30 degrees tomorrow.
- We should hit Pohang in about 20 minutes.
Balmy = pleasantly warm
- Everyone enjoys balmy weather on the weekend.
Muggy = extremely humid
- It is so muggy that I don't feel like doing anything.
Down-filled = filled with feathers (usually coats or blankets)
- I just spent $300 on a down-filled comforter.
Take ~ lightly = To not be concerned about; to pay little attention to
- Don't take attendance too lightly. It can really affect your grade.

Week 2 (9 March)- Pulling an All-Nighter & Worst Student Ever

To look down on = to disrespect and feel others are inferior to you
- Just because your father is rich doesn't mean that you can look down on other students.
Cocky = arrogant; conceited
- The student in the video is pretty cocky.
Show off = (verb) to display one's talents or possessions in an arrogant manner.

(noun) a person who often does this

She is very intelligent, but she's kind of a show off. Just because she speaks 5 languages doesn't mean she has to tell everyone about it.

A know it all = a person who thinks he is very intelligent and knows everything
- She thinks she's a know it all, but her answers are usually incorrect.
To burn the midnight oil = to stay up late into the night working on something
- I'll have to burn the midnight oil if I wanna get this
To pull an all-nighter = to not sleep in order to study or enjoy time with friends
- I had a great weekend, but I'm exhausted. My friends and I pulled an all-nighter in Seoul on Saturday.
To cram = to study very hard right before an exam (usually after not studying most of the semester)
- It is better to study a little every day than to cram a day or two before the exam.
In the nick of time = just before the deadline
- I finished the report just in the nick of time.
Turn in/hand in = submit
- I can't do anything this weekend because I have to turn in my project on Monday.
To be in hot water = to be in a situation in which someone else is angry at you
- If you go home too late, you're going to be in hot water.
Pop quiz = an unannounced quiz
- Most students don't like pop quizzes.
Mind went blank = to suddenly forget the things you knew
- If you don't get enough sleep, your mind might go blank during the exam.
Take a nap = to sleep for a short time (1 to 3 hours) during the day
- My daughter takes a nap everyday.
Be under pressure = to have a lot of responsibilities
- Since I've accepted the new position I earn a lot more money, but I'm under a lot of pressure.
You can say that again = I completely agree
- person A: English conversation class is awesome. person B: You can say that again!
Hit the books = Study
- You better hit the books this weekend. There will be a quiz on Monday.
Hit the sack = Sleep
- It's 2a.m. We should probably hit the sack.
Take a test cold = Take a test without studying or preparing
- If you want an "S", don't take a test cold.

Week 3 (14 March)- Wild Goose Fathers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4FkAvuKnuc

Wild Goose Fathers.docx

Give ~ an edge= provide a better opportunity; provide a better chance to obtain a position or win in a competition
- Attending a prestigious university will give you an edge over other job applicants.
- Superior equipment gives professional golfers an edge over amateur golfers.
Strain = to make something more difficult
- The increase in taxes has really strained our family.
- A serious medical problem during the middle of the semester can severely strain a student's performance.
Unprecedented = bigger, better, worse, etc. than anything that has happened before.
- The recent changes in the global climate are unprecedented.
Drive = motivate; provide passion or energy to do something
- The desire to please my parents drives me to do my best.
Driven by = motivated by; receiving passion or energy to do something from something or because of something.
- The student is driven by his hope to enter an Ivy League graduate school.

Week 3 (16 March)- Continuining Education and Elite Schools

Week 3b-Continuing Ed & Elite Schools.doc

Dead-end job = a positin in which the work is dissatisfied with the current terms of employment and has no chance for advancement.
- He liked the job at the gas station, but it was a dead-end job.
Can't get anywhere = unable to make any progress towards a solution of a problem or achievement of a goal.
- Do you think you could help me with this experiment? I can't get anywhere on it.
TV dinner = frozen food that is usually sold in a box. This food is usually heated in the microwave and eaten by a person who is watching television.
- TV dinners usually contain a lot of sodium and preservatives. You shouldn't eat too many.
"Now you're talking" = an expression used to tell a person the idea just mentioned is much better than previously mentioned ideas.
- A: Let's see that new romantic comedy.
- B: Boring~
- A: We could go to beach instead.
- B: Now you're talking!
Funny = strange; peculiar; awkward
- A: What do you think of our new classmate?
- B: He seemed kind of funny at first, but he's okay once you get to know him.
Plug away = to consistently try and make small improvements or progress
- A: Have you finished building that boat?
- B: No, but I'm still plugging away at it.
You can't teach an old dog new tricks = it is difficult to change a person's routines, habits, or knowledge
- A: Did your dad ever figure out his smart phone?
- B: You can't teach an old dog new tricks. I tried to explain it to him for a couple hours, but he can barely answer the phone.
Cold feet = a nervous and uncomfortable feeling that prevents a person from doing something
- A: How did the audition go?
- B: I got cold feet and decided not to go.
Be in the same boat = to be in the same situation
- A: Can you guys handle the work for our project? I have so much homework to do.
- B: We're all in the same boat. It's only fair to divided the work evenly.
Be bored stiff/bored to tears/bored to death = be really bored
- A: Did you enjoy the presentation?
- B: Not at all. Everyone was bored to tears. I don't know why they invited that man to speak.
Stick it out = endure; make continuous effort to achieve a difficult task until it is completed
- A: This class is killing. I'm thinking about withdrawing.
- B: We're almost halfway through the semester. You should try to stick it out.
Stick out = for something or someone to be so different than other things/people that others can easily notice the person/thing
- She is several inches taller than all her friends so she really sticks out.

Week 4 Continuining Ed (cont)

Spark one's interest = to make someone interested in something for the first time; to get one's attention
What a drag = that is terrible; that sucks
Once in a blue moon = very rarely
An awful lot = a lot (awful just adds emphasis)
One's mind is wandering = a person's thoughts move from one subject to another; person is not focused on what he/she should be
Be on the edge of one's seat = be very interested in something (be it is interesting or scary)
Dawn on someone = to suddenly realize something
It comes down to = the main point/thing is (= it boils down to)
Fool around = to act playfully and not do the tasks one is responsible for doing
Bomb a test = terribly fail a test
Buckle down = to focus on the tasks a person should be doing
Take someone up on = to accept an invitation
Chill = cool feeling in the air
Doze = to unintentionally begin to fall asleep (usually in class, while driving, or while watching television)
Have a good shot = to be likely to get/achieve/accomplish
Strike a nerve = to make a strong impact (positive or negative) on people
Gruelling/ Rigorous = demanding and difficult
Fall short = to not accomplish the desired or necessary requirements
Would kill to have ~ = really want to have
Tongue-lashing = angry (and usually) loud lecture/scolding; abusive language usually used to discipline a person
Devour = to consume or take in a lot of information (usually used about food, but used about studying in this context)
Plunge into = to begin a difficult task (without thinking or hesistating)

Week 4 B- Oral Interaction Vocabulary

Coscientious= careful and hard-working
Deaf = unable to hear
Crippled = unable to walk
Tuition = the money paid to attend a school
Funded (by) = to give money to support a person or organization
Faculty = the people who work in a school
Aimed for = tried to get or accomplish

Week 5 A- At a Party- Taking the Initiative

Week 5 a- At a Party Taking Initiative.doc

What's eating you = what's bothering you.
Keep something bottled up = to NOT talk about something that is bothering you
Get something off your chest = to talk about something that is bothering you (so you feel better about it)
Have the guts/nerve/balls to = have the courage to
Give something a shot = try; attempt
Wouldn't be caught dead with = would never be with
Wouldn't be caught dead in = would never go
Wouldn't be caught dead + verb+ing = would never do something
Skip it = to move on to the next matter or question
Bite the bullet = to gather the courage to do something difficult or that makes you nervous
To bite someone's head off = to get angry and yell at someone
To bite off more than you can chew = to accept more responsibilities or tasks than you can manage well
To bite your tongue = to not speak (often when you really want to say something but saying something could cause a problem)
Put something off = to postpone or delay something
To be put off (to be turned off) = to be unattracted; to be repulsed; to be disgusted
That'll be the day = an expression said after someone mentions something that is VERY UNLIKELY to happen
- A: Who knows, maybe you'll get a $30,0000 raise.
- B: That'll be the day.
Take the intiative = to start something (positive) without being instructed or ordered to do so
Be bound to = be very likely to; be certain to
Pass up = to decline a (good) opportunity or invitation *Often used with shouldn't/didn't/don't
- You shouldn't pass up the chance to study abroad. It will really broaden your perspective on things.

Week 5 B- Party Song- I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas

Week 5B-I Gotta Feeling-Party Song.doc

I gotta feeling = I think
Live it up = to live passionately (completely); to really enjoy and take full advantage of a time period
Spend it up = to spend completely (or at least a lot)
Eat it up = to eat all of something so that none remains (often used about eating all of something that was originally left)
Finish it up = to finish all of something so that no work remains (often used about finishing all of something that was originally left)
Have a ball (have a blast) = to have a really enjoyable time; to have a lot of fun
Get down = to dance
Let ~ go = to forget about something that worries or angers you
Let oneself go = to completely loose a sense of self-control (usually regarding one's weight, habits, or personal appearance).
Paint the town red = to enjoy an evening by going many places and acting will
Mazel Tov = cheers!
Shut a place down = to remain at a place until it closes (you are told you have to leave)
Easy come easy go = an expresssion said after something is lost or someone leaves; displays a relaxed attitude towards life
Around the clock = always; continuously; without stopping; 24 hours a day